City Council considers half-cent sales tax extension

Bartlesville Community Center improvements and additional features to Sooner Pool were among projects discussed by the Bartlesville City Council for inclusion in the proposed continuation of the city’s half-cent sales tax, which may go before voters as early as June.

Councilors were presented with two options related to the length of an extension of the half-cent sales tax: a five-year issue, with projected revenue of $14.7 million, or a seven-year issue with projected revenue of $21.1 million. According to Director of Engineering and Water Utilities Terry Lauritsen, the city has historically had five-year issues but city staff are recommending a seven-year issue for this proposed extension.

Dates in June, July and August were also presented for the holding of an election. The state requires 60-day notice for a resolution to call the election so the earliest resolution would be due in April, Lauritsen said.

By the end of the City Council’s discussion Monday night, staff members were asked to put the seven-year option first on the next meeting agenda and it was noted that if that option is approved, the five-year option can be pulled from the agenda. Mayor Tom Gorman recommended that a June 11 election date also be included on the agenda for consideration.

Councilor Mike McGrew also thought the June 11 date would be best and pointed out that the Bartlesville Public School District is looking at holding a bond election later this year.

“I really think we need to do it with the June 11th election, if possible, because we need to get it out of the way before the school board comes in because, once they do, it’s going to be very difficult for us to do anything, let alone (the seven-year option). That’s my personal opinion,” McGrew said.

Gorman clarified that the City Council is not asking for any more money per year.

“We’re not asking for anything in addition to what we currently have. We’re just asking for it to be authorized for two years longer than it currently is,” Gorman said. “And, it allows (staff) to do further planning and take on a little longer range projects than (staff) are able to do under the current five-year program.”

No action was taken Monday on projects to be funded through the tax — which expires next fiscal year — as the agenda item was merely for discussion.

During the process of determining possible projects, city staff members were asked to submit projects considered to be priorities. Lauritsen said staff submitted roughly $33 million worth of projects.

Of those projects, projects selected to be included in the extension are:

• Bartlesville Community Center improvements consisting of the curved roof replacement, replacement of the concrete drive in the front and back, replacement of the boiler for the HVAC and replacement of carpeting and stair nosing. The seven-year option would also allow for the renovation of the auditorium, which would include replacing seats, painting and repairing walls, floors and the ceiling. Improvements at the Community Center would cost $1,292,500 for the five-year option and $1,842,500 for the seven-year option.

• Administrative vehicles for $50,000

• East downtown storm drainage improvements for $2,250,000

• Facility improvements for $490,000 in the five-year option or $620,000 in the seven-year option.

• Park projects including Price Fields (phase two quad and parking), Johnstone Skate Park expansion, Pathfinder Parkway and MJ Lee Lake Trail and facility improvements and equipment for $2,507,000 in the five-year option. The seven-year option would include all of the items in the five-year option, with the addition of the Sooner Pool recreational expansion, bringing the total amount up to $6,257,000. Community Development Director Lisa Beeman said the changes at Sooner Pool would involve keeping the lap pool, making improvements to the pool surface, adding features like two speed slides and a bowl slide and the construction of a lazy river.

• Police equipment totaling $1,050,000 in the five-year option and $1,470,000 in the seven-year option. The difference between the two options involves the purchase of seven vehicles each year for the department’s fleet, and the seven-year option would involve two more years and an additional 14 vehicles than the five-year option.

• Equipment and vehicles for the Public Works department totaling $520,000

• Street improvements, including Hillcrest Drive from 18th Street to the Caney River and preventative maintenance at $750,000 per year. The five-year option would provide $6,050,000 for street improvements and the seven-year option would provide $7,550,000.